218: Two Vegan Vixens Share the Secrets to Healing Acid Reflux, Getting Rid of Eczema and Going Plant-Based

Explicit content warning

09/04/18 • 63 min

It’s never been easier to go plant-based. More importantly, there’s never been a better time to do it. Faced with an epidemic of disease and the threat of global warming, it’s the one thing all of us can do to make a positive difference - both for our health, and the planet.

Today’s two guests made the shift to veganism after watching the groundbreaking (and super powerful) documentary Earthlings. Now, they want to help other people transition to plant-based living, and better health.

Melissa is a plant-powered personal chef and founder of ForkinPlants. We’re so inspired by her story. After studying healthcare and working in an office for years, she quit her 9 to 5 to follow her dreams and focus on her passions: cooking and helping people live healthy lives. But she wasn’t always on this vibe. In fact, before going vegan she used to eat cheese out of a can! Fifteen years ago, she had to take a 14-day course of antibiotics to clear an H-Pylori stomach infection. The result was a destroyed digestive system, chronic acid reflux and really bad eczema. Through research and Chinese medicine, she discovered that some of the top superfoods, like turmeric, were actually making her condition worse. Now, having healed herself through food, she helps others do the same. Read her blog post to find out how she healed her skin issues.

Elana’s journey is similar. She suffered from chronic acid reflux from the age of 16. Of course, doctors just gave her a pill to take and unsurprisingly, this didn’t work long-term. She had her light-bulb moment at a retreat where the host made everyone watch Earthlings. Now vegan and healthy, Elana is a plant-based influencer and foodie, spreading vegan holistic health knowledge to those who need it most. She runs vegan events, and is about to quit her office job to follow her passion full-time. Her website Klean-Slate focuses on being real about food - because let’s face it, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about making small sustainable changes that last. Check out Episode 120 for Elana’s first appearance on the show, where she shares tips to rebalance your gut microflora.

Our favorite vegan substitutes:

Milk:

Oatly milk - and chocolate milk. Their barista blend froths up beautifully
Malk milk - sprouted nuts, no binders, super-clean and super tasty... especially the maple-pecan!

Cheese:

For everyday cheese, go for Follow Your Heart vegan cheese slices
Kite Hills chive cream cheese
Daiya cheese
Miyoko’s cheese
Yvonne’s vegan cheese

Yogurt:

Vegan meats:

Beyond Burger - everyone loves this burger, even meat-eaters
Gardein - but this is more a treat food than a health food

Ice-cream:

Cocobella
Ben & Jerry’s vegan options
Breyers vegan options
Van Leeuwen
Salt & Straw

Being hailed as “Sex and the City for Food,” The Food Heals Podcast brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to teach you the best-kept natural secrets to being a hotter, healthier, happier YOU!

The Food Heals Podcast is hosted by Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy – two self-proclaimed natural chicks who will rock your world and change your beliefs about health! This sexy, savvy duo provides eco-friendly advice on a variety of issues including the healing power of nutrition, living authentically, turning your passion into your career, choosing the best natural health and beauty products, the benefits of a plant-based diet and so much more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our favorite vegan substitutes:

Milk:

Oatly milk - and chocolate milk. Their barista blend froths up beautifully
Malk milk - sprouted nuts, no binders, super-clean and super tasty... especially the maple-pecan!

Cheese:

For everyday cheese, go for Follow Your Heart vegan cheese slices
Kite Hills chive cream cheese
Daiya cheese
Miyoko’s cheese
Yvonne’s vegan cheese

Yogurt:

Vegan meats:

Beyond Burger - everyone loves this burger, even meat-eaters
Gardein - but this is more a treat food than a health food

Ice-cream:

Cocobella
Ben & Jerry’s vegan options
Breyers vegan options
Van Leeuwen
Salt & Straw

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

217: Get Loved Up with Yoga Superstar Koya Webb and Sexy Fit Vegan Ella Magers

With so many different types of yoga, you might not know where to start. The same goes for fitness. Do you go hard and fast, or slow and gentle? Thai kick-boxing or asana flow? Or maybe it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re moving and appreciating your body.

Koya Webb is a yoga superstar and celebrity holistic health coach, has appeared on NBC and was the main character on the reality show Yoga Girls. If you want to feel inspired, her Instagram is the most beautiful feed, full of motivational posts. But it wasn’t always this way.

As a teen, Koya was insecure, had no self-worth or self-love. She had to learn to build that over time. What set her on that journey was track athletics. But just before she was about to make it big, she got a stress fracture. That was the end of the dream. She sank into a very dark place. And that’s when a school councilor suggested yoga.

From the first class, Koya felt connected to spirit in a way she’d never experienced before. Within a year, she’d healed her body through yoga and meditation. From there, she kept studying and decided to become a yoga teacher to inspire people into a healthier lifestyle. For Koya, the secret lies in balance.

You don’t have to be dogmatic about yoga, just like you don’t have to be dogmatic about your diet. When Alli went from non-vegan to super hardcore raw veganism, she got sick. She had to find her sweet spot. Everyone is different. Some people love to eat first thing in the morning. Other people enjoy intermittent fasting. And what you need may change depending on what’s happening in your life. You need to eat and fuel up based on your lifestyle. And the most important ingredient for total health? Self-love.

We need to get loved up. Most of us are givers and lovers and nurturers, but we also need to learn how to receive love. Otherwise our cup gets empty and we get exhausted. Koya created the Get Loved Up University, a yoga teacher training academy to give more women the tools to teach other women, and spread the beautiful message of love, unity, health and plant-based nutrition. If this sounds like what you need, join Koya on her yoga retreat in Thailand in December! Any shape, size, nationality, yoga ability, you are invited to come and get loved up!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

219: Vegan Wine You Can Drink Guilt-Free and Success Tips From a Fierce Female Entrepreneur

There’s nothing like getting home after a hard day and pouring yourself a glass of wine. But did you know most wines aren’t vegan? Crazy right? Traditional alcohol production uses ingredients such as egg whites, gelatin or dried fish bladders to filter the grapes - suddenly that vino doesn’t look as appealing does it!

Thankfully, some brands have stepped up with delicious vegan options. Our favorite is Le Grand Courtage, founded by Tawnya Falkner, a fierce female entrepreneur who didn’t let anything hold her back from following her passion.

During her many travels (43 countries so far!), Tawnya realized the important role wine plays in all cultures. It brings people together, it highlights celebrations, it helps us to unwind. But it can also be snobby, and some expensive brands don’t even taste that nice (and aren’t even plant-based!). She wanted to create a sparkling wine that’s delicious, affordable, and vegan - a wine suitable for every day and every celebration. So she moved from San Francisco to France to make it happen.

And, despite this being a highly male-dominated industry, she’s succeeded! Without pre-conceived notions of what wine should be, she’s been able to create a light, refreshing, sparkling wine and grow her business from nothing. Her motto: don’t let anything hold you back, especially not insecurity. Dream big and go for it!

Le Grand Courtage bottles are available to buy State-wide. Her latest wine, Très Chic Rosé, has our thumbs up over and above other brands. It’s perfect on its own, or made into cocktails. We love it! You can get yours here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices